Into the Wild Black Yonder

Chapter Twenty-eight - The Best First Christmas Party Ever - Part two

On the Enterprise

Late December, 2258

Spock and Nyota

They had the entire outside of the shuttle covered in nets full of evergreen branches. They even had two large nets inside the shuttle, laid out over the rear rows of seats. The shuttle smelled like heavy pine air freshener. They weren't sure they were going to be able to stand it all the way back to the Enterprise. They had everything stowed except the tent and the sleeping bags. Spock considered the time. Then he raised one eyebrow at Nyota. Once more?

She looked back at him, her lips curled up in an attempt not to grin widely at him. Why not? Who knows when we're going to get a chance to go camping again. She got down on her hands and knees going through the tent flaps, wiggling her bottom at him. He was right behind her, wasting not a moment of time.

Kirk

He prowled the ship, checking on all the preparations. Spock and Uhura should be back in a few hours with the tree. He could hardly wait to see what they had found. When he passed the mess hall he saw the portable stasis units sitting by the door. They must be full of those garlands Chekov's committee had been stringing. Down by the sick bay there were several carts sitting by the door. Bones had his stuff ready to go, as well, then. Good, good. Down to Engineering next, there was Scotty, deep in conversation with...what was that guy's name? Ah, yes, Ensign Riley. As he got closer, they shut up. Wonder what they had been discussing?

"How's the planning for the food going, Scotty?"

"Verra good, sir. Goin' tae be lots and lots of good food. And punch." Here Scotty glanced out of the corner of his eyes at Riley. "Lots a' punch." Scotty and Riley both beamed.

Jim looked from one to the other. What were they up to? "Well, then, carry on." he continued on his tour of the ship. When he passed the botanical section, he heard the sound of Christmas carols. Sulu must be doing his research. Good, good. Glad to see people were on top of their assignments. Time to head back to the bridge then. He practically bounced down the corridor, all hyped up about the party.

Shuttle Hanger deck, Wednesday evening

When the shuttle settled down to the deck, completely covered in nets full of evergreen branches, crewmen swarmed over it, pulling the nets down, carrying them over to the far corner of the bay. The door opened, and Command Spock stepped out, laden down with a rolled tent, two sleeping bags, and a kitchen hamper. Lieutenant Uhura followed, two small duffles in her hand. They quickly got out of the way of the workers carrying the large branches, heading for the corridor towards the turbolift. Behind them, the task of assembling the branches into a tree shape around a tall pipe started as soon as the shuttle was moved to an out-of-the-way position.

By the time the day shift came on duty, there was a huge tree standing in the corner, ready to decorate. And by evening, the remainder of the evergreen boughs had been attached to the walls all around the bay. The whole bay smelled lovely. Now for the remainder of the decorations. The center of the floor cleared, tables were brought in and set up, for the refreshments. The medical supplies were brought in and set up in the corner opposite the tree. Things were beginning to shape up.

Chekov

He went around and gathered up his committee and pushed the portable stasis unit down to the shuttle bay. They strung the garlands of popcorn and cranberries on the tree, using a telescoping basket to raise them up to the top. The pretty young girls took turns helping him. He blushed all morning. The girls giggled a lot.

Then they took all the other decorations that the girls had been making in their free time, and that other crew members had donated, and hung them on the tree and on the branches fixed to the walls. This was a lot of fun. Maybe he would ask the captain if he could do this again next year.

Sulu

He took all the recordings he had selected and burned them onto discs for the music player. He carried them down to the shuttle bay and loaded up the music player that was used for the TGIF parties. The shuttle bay was really beginning to look nice.

Now to go find Uhura and ask her for her participation. That was going to be fun.

Scotty

Riley helped him carry the selected parts of their secret stashes up to the shuttle bay. They picked the shuttle furtherest back in the shadows and used it to hide the contraband in. They were all set now. The kitchen staff would set up all the food tables and put out the punch bowls. They would sneak around just before the party started and spike them all. They grinned at each other in happy anticipation.

McCoy

He met his selected helpers in the shuttle bay to get everything set up. They set two tables in a v-shape and laid out their selection of sober-ups and hangover remedies, free for the taking. They set up a small first-aid station as well. One never knew what might happen at a party like this! Okay, they were all set now.

The Usual Cast of Suspects

Friday morning

The whole ship was buzzing. Everyone was ready for the party and having a hard time concentrating on work. There was much talk of what was going to be worn. As the day wore on, it got harder and harder to find anyone talking about anything else. Even the bridge crew was talking about it. The mess hall was practically deserted that night, as everyone primped for the party.

Promptly at 1800, the doors to the shuttle bay opened wide. There were already people milling around, out in the hall, waiting to get in. Everyone oohed and ahhed over the huge tree in the corner and the branches around the walls, filling the whole space with the heady scent of evergreen. Little lights twinkled everywhere, the overhead lights being dimmed way down. The sound of traditional Christmas carols floated from the speakers spaced about the room. People wandered about, looking at the decorations, nibbling on the decorated Christmas cookies, sampling the punch, sometimes singing along with the carols.

Scotty and Riley snuck from one punch bowl to another, adding in their secret ingredients. The party started to get a little more lively.

After a while, the music changed. Now the silly songs were playing. People were laughing and singing along, drinking lots more punch. Scotty began to wonder whether they had enough 'enhancer'. He consulted with Riley and they decided to add less to each bowl from now on. After all, people were already 'feeling good'. It wouldn't take as much to keep them in that state.

The Captain stood in front of the Christmas tree and addressed the crew, wishing them all a Merry Christmas. Then there were several others who came up, to recite poetry, or sing, or play instruments. At last, the one Sulu was waiting for came out of the crowd, dressed in a wonderful red dress, drawing the tall First Officer behind her, looking just slightly confused.

She stopped in front of the tree and took the portable microphone from the crewman standing there, running the sound system. She turned to face the crowd of her shipmates, laughing. She turned Spock around as well, half facing the crowd, and half facing her. He still had no idea what she was doing, she had done an excellent job of concealing her intentions from him.

The music started, and she began to sing. While she sang, she looked right at Spock, then back at the audience, making faces and hand motions that went with the lyrics. "You're a mean one, Mr Grinch. (here she pointed right at Spock.) You really are a heel. (She poked him in the chest) You're as cuddly as a cactus (she jerked her hand back, shaking her fingers) you're as charming as an eel. Mr. Grinch. (he raised one eyebrow at her) You're a bad banana with a greasy black peel. (she shook her hand, wiping her fingers against her leg - everyone laughed) You're a monster, Mr Grinch. Your heart's an empty hole. (she was poking his chest again . Nyota, you know that is not the location of my heart.) Your brain is full of spiders, You've got garlic in your soul. (Now the other eyebrow joined the first) Mr Grinch. I wouldn't touch you, with a thirty-nine-and-a-half foot pole. (She pulled back, stretching her arm towards him, but not touching - oh, that was a naughty thought, Spock. He smirked at her No one else heard it, Nyota.) You're a vile one, Mr Grinch. You have termites in your smile. (she made little wiggly motions with her fingers next to his mouth) You have all the tender sweetness of a seasick crocodile. Mr Grinch. Given the choice between the two of you I'd take the seasick crocodile. (that would be ill advised, Nyota, I am much the better choice. She had great difficulties in not laughing aloud at that one, shaking her finger at him.) She continued with the song, adding all sorts of silly motions and continuing to make faces at him and the crew. Everyone thought it was a riot. Spock was even enjoying it. When she concluded with "You're a three decker sauerkraut and toadstool sandwich with arsenic sauce." and placed her hand flat on his chest, pushing gently, the entire room broke up in hysterical laughter. Spock's lips quirked up at the corners. You have provided them with much enjoyment, k'diwa.

And you helped, ashayam. Thank you. She smiled into his eyes, her own sparkling with laughter.

Shortly after that, the Christmas music was replaced with dance music and the party got a lot more physical. McCoy and his crew kept busy, but there were no real interruptions in the good cheer. It was a night to remember. The Best First Christmas Party Ever on the Enterprise.

Nyota

She had one more Christmas tradition to take care of before the night was over. When the dancing started, she took Spock's hand and drew him slowly towards the door, stopping every few feet to exchange holiday greetings with someone. It seemed every single member of the crew wanted to say Merry Christmas to them. It seemed to take forever to get out the door and into the corridor. It was much cooler out of the press of people. But she intended to get much warmer very soon. Down the corridor, up the turbolift, down the corridor again. Here they were at her door, but he was pulling her on down the corridor towards his quarters. What did he have in mind? She let him pull her along, wondering what was going on.

Spock

He led her into his quarters and locked the door behind her, shutting off the com as well. Now they were as alone as they could get here on the ship. He pulled her up close against him, burying his face in her hair, breathing her in. She sighed and relaxed against him, snuggling close.

He was a bit hesitant at what he was about to do, but he did feel that it was necessary. He did not want to spoil her good mood, but he felt that perhaps it might even be better for what was about to happen. He took a deep breath, let it out slowly, then lifted her chin up, so that she was looking right at him. "Do you trust me, Nyota? Really trust me?"

"Of course I do, Spock. Why would you ask me a question like that?"

"There was that incident two weeks ago."

Before he could continue, she laid one finger on his lips. "Spock, stop. I was way out of line. I'm still not sure why I took that the way I did." She swallowed hard, then continued. "The whole waking up in the middle of the night with the klaxons going off - that was the first time that had ever happened and it just really scared me. And then I discovered we weren't even in the same escape pod and that just tipped me right over the edge. I didn't even know where you were and I was scared. And then to find out that you and Kirk had planned the whole thing together and you kept it all secret from me. I guess I just felt betrayed. It wasn't the least bit logical, not even by my standards. And certainly the way I treated you after that was just awful. I really, truly see the need for drills like that. I wouldn't want to be that scared and upset and off-kilter in a real emergency. Those drills really need to happen often until the whole crew gets used to it - at least enough that we don't go off half-cocked and make mistakes. I really thought I was more ..centered..than that, more controlled. I think that fact that I wasn't scared me almost as much as anything else. I think I was just so mortified that I lost control that I just lashed out. It won't happen again. It won't." She was still looking him straight in the eyes, but there were tears sparkling in the corners now.

He tilted his head down, forehead resting against hers. Ah, k'diwa, I am pleased with you. You have thought this through carefully. He held her close. Perhaps what he had planned was not necessary after all. Perhaps he would just wait and see. This evening could easily proceed in an entirely different direction. He rolled his forehead against hers, down until their temples touched. Her emotions washed through him, leaving him trembling against her. Ah, yes, a different direction, much better than what he had planned. He lifted her in his arms, carrying her into the sleeping area, laying her down on the bed, pinning her there with his weight while she sighed happily. Merry Christmas, k'diwa.

Merry Christmas, ashayam.